### Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Linking Sean “Diddy” Combs and Former Las Vegas Police Captain John Pelletier

In late December 2025, a U.S. District Judge in California ordered the dismissal of a high-profile civil lawsuit that had named rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs and former Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Captain John Pelletier—now Maui Police Chief—as defendants. The case, filed by plaintiff Ashley Parham and later amended to include anonymous Jane and John Doe plaintiffs, alleged a shocking conspiracy involving a 2018 gang rape in Orinda, California, kidnapping of witnesses from Las Vegas, and a subsequent cover-up.

The suit claimed Pelletier, while serving as a captain in Las Vegas in 2018, posed as a Contra Costa County sheriff, responded to Parham’s report of assault by Combs and others, dismissed her claims, and even abducted witnesses at gunpoint to transport them to the crime scene. These accusations painted Pelletier as a “co-conspirator” in a broader “Diddy Sexual Abuse Coverup Enterprise,” alongside celebrities like Odell Beckham Jr. and comedian Druski.

However, the lawsuit crumbled on procedural grounds. Judge Rita Lin dismissed it for “failure to prosecute,” noting that plaintiffs repeatedly missed deadlines to properly serve defendants despite multiple extensions. No defendants, including Combs and Pelletier, were ever formally served, preventing the case from advancing.

Pelletier, who became Maui Police Chief in 2021 after a 22-year career in Las Vegas, vehemently denied the allegations from the start. He provided irrefutable evidence—bank records, phone data, and duty logs—proving he was over 500 miles away in Las Vegas during the alleged incidents and had never visited Orinda or Contra Costa County. “These were complete fabrications,” his attorney Keola Whittaker stated, calling the claims “outrageous and disconnected from reality.”

The dismissal brought relief but lingering bitterness. Pelletier publicly expressed the toll on his family, criticizing media sensationalism and calling for apologies from those who amplified the unproven accusations. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen, who earlier urged Pelletier’s administrative leave (denied by the Police Commission), issued a statement expressing gratitude for the dismissal and compassion for the chief’s family.

Combs, already serving a 50-month sentence following his July 2025 conviction on prostitution-related charges (acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking), faced this as one of many civil suits amid his legal woes. His team previously dismissed similar claims as baseless.

This procedural end underscores the challenges of high-stakes litigation involving celebrities: wild allegations can generate headlines, but lack of evidence or diligence often leads to swift closure. For Pelletier, vindication restores focus on his duties, including Maui’s post-wildfire recovery efforts.

As 2025 ends, the case serves as a reminder that even explosive claims require substantiation to survive judicial scrutiny.